Method and device for transmitting UART communications over a security short range wireless communication

Abstract

Disclosed is a modular surgical instrument, comprising a handle assembly comprising a handle assembly control circuit and a modular attachment. The modular attachment comprises a nozzle, and a shaft extending distally from the nozzle, the shaft defining a central longitudinal axis. The modular attachment further comprises an end effector distal to the shaft, the end effector comprising a sensor array. The modular attachment further comprises a modular attachment control circuit communicably coupled to the sensor array, and physically coupled to the shaft. The modular attachment control circuit is configured to rotate with the shaft relative to the handle assembly about the central longitudinal axis. The modular attachment control circuit is configured for wireless communication with the handle assembly control circuit.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A modular surgical instrument, comprising:
 a handle assembly comprising a handle assembly control circuit; and 
 a modular attachment, comprising: 
 a nozzle; 
 a shaft extending distally from the nozzle, the shaft defining a central longitudinal axis; 
 an end effector distal to the shaft, the end effector comprising a sensor array; and 
 a modular attachment control circuit communicably coupled to the sensor array, and physically coupled to the shaft, wherein the modular attachment control circuit is configured to rotate with the shaft relative to the handle assembly about the central longitudinal axis, and wherein the modular attachment control circuit is configured for wireless communication with the handle assembly control circuit. 
 
     
     
       2. The modular surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the modular attachment control circuit comprises a first wireless transceiver, wherein the handle assembly control circuit comprises a second wireless transceiver, and wherein the modular attachment control circuit is configured to establish a short range wireless connection between the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver over a short range wireless communication protocol. 
     
     
       3. The modular surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the modular attachment control circuit is configured to:
 receive an indication of a first voltage powering the modular attachment, wherein the first voltage is sufficient to enable a short range wireless broadcast, but insufficient to enable a full operation of the end effector; 
 determine that the first voltage matches a predetermined voltage requirement; and 
 broadcast the short range wireless connection to the handle assembly control circuit. 
 
     
     
       4. The modular surgical instrument of  claim 3 , wherein the first voltage is provided to the modular attachment from a connection with an external power station, and wherein the connection with the external power station is temporary until a unique passcode is validated. 
     
     
       5. The modular surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein a unique passcode is assigned to the modular attachment during the manufacturing process of the modular attachment. 
     
     
       6. The modular surgical instrument of  claim 5 , further comprising a safety microcontroller unit (MCU) and a main MCU, wherein the safety MCU is configured to:
 receive a user input from the user input interface, wherein the user input is representative of an input passcode; 
 validate that the input passcode matches the unique passcode; and 
 enable universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART) serial encoding by the main MCU, wherein the main MCU encodes at least one of input parameters received by the sensor array and operational instructions received over a short range wireless communication protocol. 
 
     
     
       7. The modular surgical instrument of  claim 6 , wherein the short range wireless communication protocol comprises Bluetooth. 
     
     
       8. The modular surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly further comprises a power circuit comprising a power source. 
     
     
       9. The modular surgical instrument of  claim 8 , wherein the handle assembly further comprises an inductive power transfer coil. 
     
     
       10. The modular surgical instrument of  claim 9 , wherein the modular attachment comprises an inductive power source that receives an inductive power transfer from the inductive power transfer coil of the handle assembly; and wherein the first voltage is wirelessly transferred to the modular attachment from the inductive power transfer coil of the handle assembly. 
     
     
       11. The modular surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the modular attachment comprises a power interrupt circuit configured to disconnect power to the modular attachment based on a disconnection of the nozzle from the handle assembly.